Automatic device for stopping air leakage around valves



Dec. 11; 1934. R. L. CLIFTON 1,983,538

AUTOMATIC DEVICE FOR STOPPING AIR LEAKAGE AROUND VALVES Filed Sept. 6, 1953 &

flzzome f Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITE D STAT-ES PAT-Eur ornate AUTOMATIC DEVICE 'FOR STOPPING AIR LEAKAGE AROUND VALVES Rufus L. Clifton, Luke Field, vTerritory of Hawaii Applicationseptember 6, 1933, Serial No. 688,365

6 Claims.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) This invention-described herein maybe-manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a device for stopping air leakage around the valve stems of internal combustion engines and the primary object.

thereof is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is adapted to be easily and quickly applied to the stem of a worn intake valve .andguide of the engine for automatically taking up any wear thereof and stop leakage of air into the engine cylinders between the valve stem and guide.

Another object of myinvention is to 'provide'a be described with reference to the accompany- --11. permits the-washer to be readily mounted on v.orxremovedifrom the stem 3 of the valve 2 and ing drawing in which like members are indicated by similar reference characters and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of aportion of an engine cylinder provided with an intake valve having my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my invention in operative position on a valve stem;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of sections about to be connected together for forming a retainer used in carrying out my invention;

Fig. 4 ,is a vertical sectional view of my invention taken on line-4--4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a packing washer used in carrying out my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment characterizing my invention 1 indicates a portion of an engine cylinder of an internal combustion engine having an intake valve 2 provided thereon containing a stem 3 which extends through a guide 4.

The valve 2 is yieldingly held against its seat 5 by the usual valve closing spring 6, one end of which encircles a flange 7 provided on the guide 4, while the other end thereof receives the central portion of the disk 8 suitably secured to the lower end of valve stem 3.

Disposed against the lower end surface of the guide 4 is my improved device indicated generally by A for stopping leakage of air between the 115:.a1'1d115, having a convex and concave end and; convex end'surface of the tapered ends 15.;,

order to insure that suitable pressure is applied-. by the retainer '12 to the washer 11 at definite points'thereon such as at 16 and 17 to increase intake valve stem 3 and the guide 4 after they have become worn. A coil spring 9 is disposed between my device A and the disk 8 for holding -1ny device in an operative position against the valve guide 4;,said spring 9 encircles the stem 3 of 5 the valve with the upper end thereof bearing against the lower surface of my device while the lower end thereof bears against the disk 8. A

washer 19 may be provided between the upper end .of' the coil spring 9. and the bottom of my device if desired.

.My improved device A comprises a packing Washer 11 mounted in an adjustable retainer 12 which is adapted to adjustably compress the washer 11 around the peripheral surface of the valve stem Badjacent the lower end of the guide i. The packing Washer 11 which is made of any suitable material such as felt is provided with a centrally located aperture 13 through which the valve stem 3 extends and is provided with a split 14 which extends in a circular arc tangably from the aperture 13 to the outside edge of the washer as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing. The circular arc-shaped split 14 provides tapered ends surfacexrespectively. The split 14.- of the washer by it being formed in a circular arc, the concave and 15' may be compressed together substantially any amount'against the valve stem by the .adjustable retainer 12 for taking up any wear of the valve stem and its guide or the like. In

the efficiency-thereof, pins 18 and 18 having a rivet head 19 on one end of each thereof are provided on the washer. The pin 18 extends in a, horizontal direction from the central outer peripheral surface of the washer as at 20 inwardly toward the inner portion of the tapered end 15 and terminates closely adjacent the lower peripheral surface of the aperture 13, whereas the pin 18 extends from the peripheral surface of the washer at 21 toward the outer end of the concave side of the tapered end 14 terminating closely adjacent thereto.

The retainer 12 for the packing washer 11 consists of a circular cup, the open end of which is caused to bear against the lower end of the guide 4 around the valve stem 3 by the spring 9. The circular cup shaped retainer is divided in half forming semi-sections 22 which are pivotably connected together at one end by a pin 23 fitting into pin receiving lugs 24. Each of the free ends of the sections 22 is provided with a spaced flange 25 that is adapted to be adjustably connected together by means of a bolt 26 which extends through apertures 2'7 provided on the flanges 24.. On the bolt 26 is a nut 28 which may be adjusted for making the circumferential area of the retainer 12 smaller or larger to more or less maintain the packing washer 11 in a compressed condition against the peripheral surface of the valve stem 3. A centrally located cut-out portion 29 is provided on the inner edge of each of the semibottorn portions 30 of the sections 22 of the retainer 12. The cut-out portions 29 are oppositely disposed to each other and form a circular opening when the sections of the retainer are adjustably connected together for surrounding the outer periphery of the valve stem.

To prevent displacement of the retainer 12 and to insure proper stability thereof a small spring 31 may be mounted on said bolt 26 between the flanges 24'.

It will readily be seen from the above description of my invention that adjusting the nut 28 on the bolt 26, the retainer 12 more or less maintains the packing washer 11 provided therein in a compressed condition laterally against the valve stem, the spring 9 compressing the device vertically upward against the lower end of the valve guide surrounding the portion of the valve stem which enters the opening of the guide, thereby preventing air from leaking into the engine cylinders between the valve stem and guide. The said device being simple in construction, efficient in operation and which is well adapted for all the purposes designated.

Even though I have herein shown and described my device as comprising certain structural elements it is nevertheless to be understood that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1. The combination of a valve stem and guide of an engine, the valve stem in said guide, and a spring for said valve stem, of a packing therefor comprising an adjustable retainer and asplit washer provided therein embracing said valve stem, the split of said washer being circular arcuate shaped.

2. The combination of a valve stem and guide of an engine, the valve stem in said guide, and a spring for said valve stem, of a packing therefor comprising a retainer made of sections, a split packing washer embraced within said sections and embracing said valve stem, the split of said washer being circular arcuate shaped and means on said retainer for adjustably connecting said sections together against said packing washer.

3. The combination of a valve stem and guide, the valve stem in said guide, of a packing therefor comprising a retainer made of sections, a packing washer provided in said retainer, said washer having an aperture and a circular are shaped split therein and embracing said valve stem, said circular arc shaped split providing tapered ends, and means on said retainer for adjustably connecting said sections thereof together to compress said washer around against said valve stem.

4. The combination of a valve stem and guide of an engine, the valve stem in said guide, and a spring for said valve stem, of a packing therefor comprising a retainer divided into sections, said sections pivotably connected together at one end and having a flange on each of the other ends thereof, means on said retainer for adjustably connecting said flanges together, and a packing washer provided in said retainer, said packing washer having an aperture and. a circular arcuate shaped split therein and adapted to be adjustably compressed around said valve stem y said retainer.

5. The combination of a valve stem and guide of an engine, the valve stem in said guide, and a spring for said valve stem, of a packing therefor comprising an open-ended cup shaped sectional retainer having the open end thereof bearing against said guide in surrounding relation to said stem, a split washer mounted in said retainer embracing said valve stem the split of said washer being circular arcuate shaped, means. on said retainer for adjustably compressing it against said washer for causing said washer to be compressed against said valve stem and means for compressing said retainer and washer against said guide.

6. The combination of a valve stem and guide of an engine, the valve stem in said guide, and a spring for said valve stem, of a packing therefor comprising a retainer made of sections, a packing washer provided in said retainer, an aperture and a circular arc shaped split provided in said washer, said circular arc shaped split extendin tangentially from the said aperture to the outer peripheral surface of said washer providing tapered ends, said washer being adapted to be compressed around the valve stem, means on said washer for causing pressure to be applied at definite points thereon and means on the retainer for adjustably connecting the sections thereof together and compressing said tapered ends against.

each other for compressing said washer against said valve stem.

RUFUS L. CLIFTON. 

